Primary adrenal insufficiency (e.g. Addison's disease) is a rare disorder of the adrenal glands
- affects production of two steroid hormones, cortisol and aldosterone, by the outer layer (the cortex) of the adrenals
- cortisol regulates blood pressure, blood sugar and muscle strength
- production of cortisol normally increases when the body experiences physical or psychological stress, for example, during surgery, trauma or serious infection
- aldosterone regulates sodium and fluid balance, which affect blood volume and blood pressure
Patients with primary adrenal insufficiency must take life-long corticosteroid replacement therapy usually prescribed as a combination of hydrocortisone (a glucocorticoid) and fludrocortisone (a mineralocorticoid)
- a daily dose of 20 to 30mg of hydrocortisone is normally required and given in two or three doses. A larger dose is taken in the morning on waking and a smaller dose at lunchtime and or/in the early evening in order to mimic normal diurnal rhythm of cortisol secretion
- prednisolone and dexamethasone, which are longer acting glucocorticoids, may sometimes be used as an alternative to hydrocortisone
- glucocorticoid activity of a 5mg dose of prednisolone is roughly equivalent to hydrocortisone 20mg
- fludrocortisone at a once daily dose of 50 to 300microgram dose is also given
Summary - patient with Addison's disease undergoing a dental procedure:
- patients with primary adrenal insufficiency (e.g. Addison's disease) lack endogenous steroid hormones cortisol and aldosterone and require daily steroid therapy (usually hydrocortisone and fludrocortisone) to replace them. These patients are unable to physiologically adapt to stress and usually need supplemental steroid therapy when having dental procedures, to prevent adrenal crisis
- patients having minor dental procedures (e.g. scale and polish, filling replacement) should be advised to take an additional oral dose of glucocorticoid one hour prior to their appointment
- patients having minor oral surgery e.g. root canal work under local anaesthetic, require steroid supplementation prior to the procedure, and for a full 24 hours afterwards
- those requiring dental extractions should be referred to secondary care
- patients with primary adrenal insufficiency are invariably well informed about their medical condition and additional steroid requirements
- discussion with the patient in advance of the dental procedure is vital for planning required steroid therapy in relation to the type and timing of the procedure
- the patient should advised to bring their emergency hydrocortisone injection kit to all appointments
In Detail:
- suggestions for doses for steroid supplementation and timing of these doses given below are for guidance only. Patients with primary adrenal insufficiency are invariably very well informed about their medical condition and will probably be aware of their steroid requirements prior to a dental procedure
- discussion with the patient in advance of the procedure is vital for planning additional steroid needs, discuss timing of the dental appointment and to arrange for the patient to bring their emergency hydrocortisone kit
- may be useful to provide written advice on any supplementation and top-up doses of hydrocortisone required
- details of the discussion and advice provided should be recorded in the clinical records.
Examples:
1. Minor dental procedure e.g. scale and polish, replacement of a filling
- patient should be advised to take their usual morning dose of steroid on the day of the procedure
- an additional oral dose of the next dose due should be taken one hour prior to their appointment
- should then continue taking their usual daily dose(s) after the procedure
- some patients may need to take an additional top-up dose of hydrocortisone (or equivalent glucocorticoid), if symptoms of adrenal insufficiency occur after the procedure
Example 1.1
The patient normally takes 10mg hydrocortisone twice daily (at 7.30am and 5pm) and the dental appointment is at 10am:
- take 10mg at 7.30am,
- take 10mg at 9am (one hour before procedure),
- take 10mg at 5pm (or 20mg if symptoms of adrenal insufficiency occur),
- resume normal dosing at 7.30am the morning after the procedure (i.e. take 10mg as usual).
Example 1.2
The patient normally takes 20mg hydrocortisone at 7am, 5mg at 1pm and 5mg at 6pm and the dental appointment is at 11am:
- take 20mg at 7am,
- take 5mg at 10am (one hour before procedure),
- take 5mg at 1pm (or 10mg if symptoms of adrenal insufficiency occur),
- resume normal dosing at 6pm (i.e. take 5mg as usual).
2. Minor oral surgery e.g. root canal work under local anaesthetic.
- in addition to the morning dose of hydrocortisone, the patient should be advised to take a double dose of the next dose due one hour prior to surgery, up to a maximum dose of hydrocortisone 20mg (or equivalent glucocorticoid)
- patient should be advised to continue taking a double dose for a full 24 hours after the procedure, before returning to the usual dose
On the day of the procedure:
- tke the usual morning dose
- one hour before the procedure, take a double dose of the next dose due, to a maximum of 20mg hydrocortisone (or equivalent).
- double all the other doses due that day to a maximum of 20mg hydrocortisone (or equivalent) per dose.
The day after the procedure:
- double the morning dose, to a maximum of 20mg hydrocortisone (or equivalent). Continue to double dose until 24 hours after the procedure.
The following are examples of additional dosing requirements for patients undergoing minor oral surgery
- are for guidance only and requirements may differ between patients
Example 2.1
The patient normally takes 10mg hydrocortisone twice daily (at 7.30am and 5pm) and the dental appointment is at 10am:
- take 10mg at 7.30am,
- take 20mg at 9am (one hour before procedure),
- take 20mg at 5pm,
- take 20mg at 7.30am the morning after the procedure,
- resume normal dosing at 5pm (i.e. take 10mg as usual).
Example 2.2
The patient takes 15mg hydrocortisone at 8am and 5mg at 6pm and the dental appointment is at 2.30pm (patient is being seen as an emergency):
- take 15mg at 8am,
- take 10mg at 1.30pm (one hour before procedure),
- take 10mg at 6pm,
- take 20mg at 8am the morning after the procedure,
- resume normal dosing at 6pm (i.e. take 5mg as usual).
Example 2.3
The patient takes 20mg hydrocortisone at 7am, 5mg at 1pm and 5mg at 6pm and the dental appointment is at 12 noon:
- take 20mg at 7am,
- take 10mg at 11am (one hour before procedure),
- take 10mg at 1pm,
- take 10mg at 6pm,
- take 20mg at 7am the morning after the procedure,
- resume normal dosing at 1pm (i.e. take 5mg as usual)
3. Major dental surgical procedure e.g. single or multiple tooth extraction with local or general anaesthetic
- patients with primary adrenal insufficiency needing a major dental surgical procedure will be managed in secondary care
- will be given intramuscular or intravenous hydrocortisone immediately before anaesthesia
- after surgery, the usual oral dose of steroid should be doubled for the next 24 hours.
What can dentists do to prevent adrenal crisis?
- discuss the procedure and steroid cover with the patient in advance. Most patients will be knowledgeable about their steroid requirements
- provide written advice on any supplementation and top-up doses of hydrocortisone required. Ensure the patient knows what to do if symptoms of adrenal insufficiency occur after the procedure
- plan the procedure for the morning when steroid levels will be higher
- ensure the patient has taken the correct dose of steroid prior to the procedure
- ensure an emergency hydrocortisone injection kit is available. Most patients will have their own emergency kit which they should be advised to bring to all of their dental appointments
- if a patient registered with the practice is known to have primary adrenal insufficiency, consideration should be given to stocking hydrocortisone 100mg for intramuscular injection in the emergency drugs kit
- keep the patient relaxed and make the procedure as pain and stress free as possible
- if in doubt, discuss treatment with the patient's endocrinology team (consultant endocrinologist or endocrinology specialist nurse) prior to the procedure
What about patients who are seen as an emergency? (1)
- patients with primary adrenal insufficiency presenting as an emergency with pain and dental swelling will require immediate treatment to establish drainage. Delaying treatment prolongs stress, which may precipitate an acute adrenal crisis
- establish the patient's usual corticosteroid replacement dose regimen
- establish when the last dose was taken and what this dose was. The patient may have already increased their dose to cover the stress of the dental pain/swelling
- if treatment is required, additional supplementation will be needed (see above). The patient should take a double dose of the next dose of hydrocortisone due (to a maximum of 20mg), ideally one hour before the procedure as it takes approximately one hour for peak blood concentrations of hydrocortisone to be reached
- ensure an emergency hydrocortisone injection kit is available
- see advice above re: management of major dental procedures
Reference:
- NHS Specialist Pharmacy Service (October 2019). What steroid supplementation is required for a patient with primary adrenal insufficiency undergoing a dental procedure?